Why is President Trump afraid?
That is the unanswered question as the multiple probes into Trump and his campaign associates slogs on.
Trump is apparently obsessed with the Russian investigation, mocking it and calling it a “witch hunt.”

But if there was no “collusion” between Trump campaign officials and Russia during the election, then why is he so worried?
If there’s nothing to uncover, then why not keep quiet and let the investigation run its course?
Why respond like a man who has something to hide?
There is an irony in this. Trump ran his campaign by stoking voters’ fears — fear of Mexican immigrants he called “bad hombres” and “rapists”; fear of Muslims; fear of foreign trade and “globalism”; and the fear of economic insecurity.

But now it’s the president who seems to be fearful.
Let’s take a moment to parse the facts and opinions surrounding all of this:

FACT: Russia did indeed attempt to meddle in the U.S. election last year. They did that by, among other things, hacking into DNC emails and having those released and by sponsoring a slew of fake news stories that got widespread attention on Facebook. Russia apparently also tried to hack into some U.S. voting equipment.

OPINION: Whether or not those Russian efforts played any part in the election’s outcome is a matter of opinion. Some believe the fake news stories and hacked emails did make a difference, while others don’t think it had much impact. Still, the fact that Russia went to great lengths to meddle is of grave concern to anyone who cares about U.S. sovereignty and the validity of our election process.

FACT: Some of the people at the top of Trump’s campaign are being investigated by the FBI and other agencies because they had personal or business ties to Russia. Michael Flynn, Carter Page, Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, J.D. Gordon, Roger Stone, and Michael Cohn were all directly a part of Trump’s campaign, or a close associate, and all had some kind of financial or other connections with Russian leadership or Russian interests. Trump’s lawyer Marc Kasowitz also has ties to Russian firms.

OPINION: What’s not known is whether any of those close to Trump encouraged or coordinated with their Russian contacts during the campaign about the fake news stories and email hacks. The public doesn’t yet know what, if anything, that probe has uncovered because it’s still ongoing. Trump defenders spin that by saying “there is no evidence” of Trump campaign collusion with Russia. A more accurate statement would be there is no “public” evidence of collusion — we don’t know the outcome yet. Whatever the case, the fact that so many people close to Trump have Russian connections is odd.

FACT: Trump asked then-FBI director James Comey to give Flynn a break in the probe.
OPINION: Whether or not Trump’s words to Comey amounted to an attempt at obstruction, or just a clumsy move at trying to make the mess go away is a matter of opinion. Trump defenders say there was no legal obstruction, but Trump critics say it is obvious Trump was pressuring Comey to back off and make the FBI investigation go away.

FACT: Trump fired Comey as FBI director because he wanted the Russian investigation to stop.

OPINION: Whether that firing was an attempt by the president to obstruct justice is a matter of opinion and is apparently one area special prosecutor Robert Mueller is now looking into. Attorney General Jeff Sessions attempted to downplay the firing in his testimony before the Senate last week by claiming he thought Comey should be fired over the Hillary email server issue. But Trump himself admitted on national television that the Russia probe was the main reason he fired Comey.

FACT: During the campaign, Trump made some strong pro-Russia and pro-Putin comments that many found odd. His adoration of Putin, a virtual dictator, has been unsettling to many.

OPINION: Trump supporters say he just wants a better relationship with Russia, but his critics believe there is something more going on that is driving Trump’s pro-Russia comments.

FACT: This issue isn’t over.

MY OPINION ON ALL OF THIS:
I think it’s doubtful that the investigations will turn up prosecutable evidence of Trump campaign officials having directly colluded with Russia during the election. They may have cheered it on from the sidelines and been happy to see it happening, but they would have been fools to have actively helped a foreign power, an enemy, meddle in a U.S. presidential election. (If anyone did, he should be tried for treason.)
But that doesn’t mean Trump is out of the woods. There are two areas where he may be vulnerable in the Russia probes:
First, Trump may have business entanglements in Russia or with Russian interests that would look compromising if uncovered and made public. Since he hasn’t released his tax returns, we don’t know about his financial dealings in Russia. There is speculation that he may have borrowed large sums of money from Russian banks or Russian interests to finance some of his real estate deals. If Trump does have business interests that involves Russian money and he seeks to hide it, that could bring down his presidency.
The second area of potential trouble for Trump is his reaction to these investigations. His firing of Comey was knee-jerk and makes him look like he’s trying to hide something. His efforts to derail these probes could become his undoing. It’s often the cover-up, not the action itself, that brings down politicians. (ie, Nixon.)
Whatever the case, Trump is apparently very afraid of these probes. The Russia investigation has hit a sensitive nerve for the president, based on his angry tweets and public comments.
The question is, why?

Mike Buffington is co-publisher of Mainstreet Newspapers. He can be reached at mike@mainstreetnews.com.

Mike you should format most of your political opinion articles like this (coming from a guy who disagrees with you on just about everything in politics)

FACT: Bernie Sanders, Loretta Lynch, and Hillary Clinton are all currently under FBI investigation too.

Opinion: People need to stop trying to draw conclusions before the FBI does. Do you know something the FBI doesn't? No, you are just being petty. ("you" as in anyone on either side of the isle that does this... there's a lot)

I totally agree with your comment! How can people be so obsessed with calling out President Trump when the last ones in office were and still are nothing but evil, deceiving, dishonest humans to have ever been in office and these people seem to have no problem with that!

So you would rather have had lying Hellary? Please enlighten us as to your solution. Based upon your apparent degree of rage, I would hate to think you would be in a decision mode for the more "balanced" among us. Take a deep breath, have a glass of wine, and think through things clearly and propose a solution. If you are capable.

The Truth is a powerful thing. Truth #1, Hillary Clinton was more truthful in her statements during her last political campaign than any other candidates.
Truth 2, the F'ing Moron lies with each breath.
Truth 3, the F'ing Moron is a traitor to the United States and those who support him are guilty of aiding and abetting a hostile foreign power attacking our democracy.
Truth 4, of course those who support him hate our great democracy and have actively sought to undermine it for decades.
Yes, it really is fascism supported by ignorant racist.

Amen! The only unhinged person is that blooming idiot lying thief in charge. But for a county that voted 88% for the idiot, speaks volumes about how you feel about immoral, sexual harassment predators, mocking the handicap, bankrupt businessman that thought knowing of screw over small businesses So all you Trump supporters agree with those disgusting traits in an individual. Disgusted with this county.

So what country would you like to move to? I'll buy the ticket. You don't deserve to live here unless you reworking to make a positive change for us. Can you name just one constructive thing you have done to make this a better place?

One would think that calling out shameless hypocrisy, misogyny, racism and treason in defense of democracy is a pretty positive, courageous and patriotic act in what is ostensibly a freedom loving democracy. This is particularly true when there are so many clear and present dangers to life as we know it on this planet. None of these dangers involve non-Kenyan/non-muslims nor New York grannies.

And you Annette if that is even your real name are a prime example of what is so disgusting about this county make threats against a person and RUN ALL OVER TOWN RUNNING YOUR MOUTH! How old are you? You want to have an adult conversation post your real full name and stop acting like you are still in middle school oh guess what so and so said. You are a sad sad lady living to disparage other ppl

I am always delighted to have discussions with people who have different ideas. I have had my mind changed more than once. But the difference between you and I is that I limit my discussions to folks who can discuss their ideas and thoughts in a reasonable manner. Not in the form of an unhinged, out of control lunatic. And BTW, what is your real name? You may want to "come out" as people are beginning to know.

The difference between you and I is I'm a mature adult not spreading tales about someone and gossiping like a child, so I guess that makes me an unhinged lunatic. So if you are so confident and brave about my identify why don't you post my name? And how did you with clever detective skills learn my identity? I'm sure Mike Buffington would like to know as well. So if you are going to talk about it all over the city little girl I dare you post my name and we'll see where it goes from there. My guess you prefer to talk behind ppls backs probably like you do about all your neighbors and friends.

Sure she would just not to your face because she's already stated she was going to tell everyone all over the city without any proof if she knows or how she knows the person's identity. Sounds like Annette has some growing up to do! Agree Annette is childish and pot stirred. Lol

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